Powerline communication (PLC) modem employing an analog electromagnetic transducer

Active Publication Date: 2007-09-20
SONY CORP +1
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  • Summary
  • Abstract
  • Description
  • Claims
  • Application Information

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0015] In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the anal

Problems solved by technology

While this can be a convenient arrangement for many such devices, it is inconvenient when the device to be networked does not use AC power as its primary energy source but rather is powered by a battery or other DC source.
For instance, many portable MP3 players, digital cameras, and PDAs use a battery (rechargeable as well as non-rechargable) as their primary energy source and thus do not have an appropriate AC connector (except of course possibly an AC connector that is used to recharge the battery).
While generally it is not practical to directly connect a communication device to high power conductors, in some cases it may be necessary.

Method used

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  • Powerline communication (PLC) modem employing an analog electromagnetic transducer
  • Powerline communication (PLC) modem employing an analog electromagnetic transducer
  • Powerline communication (PLC) modem employing an analog electromagnetic transducer

Examples

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Embodiment Construction

[0024] For purposes of this document, the term “power line communication network” is intended to embrace any network that utilizes electrical power lines within a home, office or other structure as the communication medium used for network communication between connected devices. In particular, this term is used to encompass networks designed to use the HomePlug network standards, current and future, which utilize a time slotted form of Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) as the multiplexing mechanism to provide communications over the power line medium within the 1 to 30 MHz frequency band. Of course, the present invention, is equally applicable to networks that employ other power line communication standards, such as those currently being developed by a number of different organizations, including IEEE P1901, OPERA (Open PLC European Research Alliance), UPA (Universal Powerline Association, and the CEPCA (Consumer Electronics Powerline Communication Alliance).

[0025]...

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Abstract

A PLC cable modem is provided which includes an analog electromagnetic field transducer for generating an electromagnetic field based on an analog electrical signal and also for generating an analog electrical signal based on an electromagnetic field. The PLC cable modem also includes an analog signal processing unit operatively coupled to the analog electromagnetic field transducer and a digital signal processing unit for processing signals received from (or to be sent to) the analog signal processing unit. An interface port is provided for communicating digital signals to and from a data transmission or receiving device.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0001] The present invention relates generally to Powerline Communication (PLC) networks, and more particularly to a method and apparatus for connecting a device, particularly a battery-powered device, to a PLC network without using an AC connection. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] The ability to interconnect computers and other intelligent devices is a common requirement wherever people live and work today. The electrical connection required to form this local area network (LAN) has traditionally been accomplished by installing dedicated data wiring both inside buildings and between clusters of buildings. A number of wireless (i.e. radio) methods have also been developed and deployed to address this need. [0003] Well-established power distribution systems exist throughout most of the United States, and other countries, which provide power to customers via power lines. With some modification, the infrastructure of the existing power distribution systems can...

Claims

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Application Information

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IPC IPC(8): H04N7/173H04N7/18
CPCH04B3/54H04B2203/5445H04B2203/545H04N21/4363H04N21/4126H04N21/43615H04N5/4401H04N21/426
InventorDAWSON, THOMAS PATRICKIWAMURA, RYUICHI
OwnerSONY CORP